When most people think of golf holes that play along the very edge of Lake Michigan, they think of Whistling Straits. For Chicagoans on the south side, they only need to think of their back yards. For downtown visitors, its only a short uber ride to play golf along the shores of Lake Michigan. While it might not have the grandeur of the Straits Course, South Shore Golf Course has loads of charm, character. and history.
I have broken this post down into 5 great reasons to visit South Shore Golf Course. Please enjoy this photography tour of one of the most interesting golf locations in the Chicago area.
#5: Gangster Horse Stables
Behind these walls are 25 of the Chicago Police Department’s most decorated officers. You might not be able to see them, but you can certainly smell them. These stables are used by the CPD to house their mounted horses. What is even more interesting is that these stables were once owned and operated by Al Capone during a different era. Apparently he needed horses for his mafia related activities.
What was once bootlegging and racketeering mixed with gambling and prostitution, has now been flipped over to a proper functioning police headquarters. The 5th hole plays right alongside the stables and I interviewed several locals to get their feelings about the mobster golf situation.
“It still feels pretty gangsta over there.”
#4: Take That you Racist Sons of Bitches
Founded in 1905, South Shore golf course originated as part of the South Shore Country Club. During its early years, it was the cultural epicenter of Chicago’s elite. Presidential figures like Howard Taft were often guests at the exclusive club. Like many other clubs of the era, South Shore also had a long history of discrimination. It was operated as a Protestant-only club that strictly barred Jewish and African American members.
As the world changed for the better, South Shore Country Club refused to follow along. A dramatic drop in members throughout the 60’s and 70’s forced the club into an unrecoverable financial situation. In 1973, the private club was forced to liquidate and close its doors permanently. This is when the Chicago Parks Department moved in and purchased the land for $9.77M.
The city’s original plan was to tear everything down and build a standard park. However, the people of South Chicago had a better plan. The citizens banned together and formed the “Coalition to Save the South Shore Country Club.” Their successful efforts got the buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the main facility was rejuvenated as the public South Shore Cultural Center, Today it provides community art programs, banquets, and a nature sanctuary to the local citizens.
The golf course is operated by the Chicago Parks department and is open to any race or religion that has a desire to play some golf. Take that, you old racist sons of bitches.
#3: $24 Greens Fee
When I mentioned earlier that South Shore Golf Course is open to any race or religion, I forgot to add one caveat. That individual must also have $24 to cover the greens fee. That $24 is one of the cheaper numbers you can find anywhere on the American golf landscape. The number feels especially small for a golf course in the 3rd largest city center in the country. The value here is simply off the charts.
The golf course is best when walked, but they do have golf carts available for those that can’t walk or need to carry obsessive amounts of camera gear. They even have rental clubs available for those that are foolish enough to travel without golf clubs.
#2: Go Pot Luck
I have been everywhere in America and I have played golf with strangers in every single state. I can say with confidence that Chicago is one of the greatest cities to head to the course as a single and get paired up with random players. After 9 holes of South Shore goodness, you might just have a new best friend. You’re guaranteed to have a story or two.
After taking my early morning photographs, I found a spot on the tee sheet, plopped down my $24 green fee and gladly joined 3 strangers on the 1st tee. The diversity and experience levels in our group was notable, but we all shared a love for the game of golf. It was one of the more enjoyable pairings in my long history of rolling solo into the pot luck lottery.
#1: The Views, The Golf and The Good Times
This is the most obvious reason to head on down to the South Shore of Chicago. A handful of golf holes provide amazing views of the city and another handful provide great views of Lake Michigan. You can see why the land was chosen as an exclusive club years ago and it makes you grateful that the beauty can now be shared with everyone.
The course itself provides a surprising amount of challenge. Trees must be navigated and the greens are very small targets. With just a tiny footprint, South Shore Golf Course is a unique and fun challenge that is not to be missed. Not only are these types of golf courses vital for the game of golf, but I have found that they embody the spirit of the game far more than most high end exclusive clubs. Long live South Shore Golf Course.
